St George’s celebrates its graduating class of 2013

The class of 2013 has graduated from St George’s, University of London and is now ready to become the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers.

A total of 614 students graduated this year, with 452 receiving their degrees at the presentation ceremony at London’s Barbican yesterday.

Degree awards were given for the four and five-year MBBS Medicine courses, the BSc in Biomedical Science, the BSc in Biomedical Informatics, and those studying intercalated BSc degrees at St George’s. Postgraduate diplomas and certificates, and MSc and research postgraduates were also awarded.

Prizes were given to graduates who performed particularly well on their courses in a range of subjects.

Visit the St George’s Facebook page to view pictures from the ceremony.

Graduates received their awards from St George’s principal Professor Peter Kopelman, who wrote in the ceremony booklet: “Sincere congratulations on behalf of St George’s, University of London. We all share the delight and pride in your graduation.

“This is an exciting and challenging time to be entering the worlds of medicine, biomedicine, and healthcare sciences.”

Professor Kopelman added that graduates should “Never forget the privilege of your education and training, and place respect for others at the top of your priorities in your future professional role.”

Judith Evans, chair of the St George's Council, said: “Today is a day to pause and relish gaining a qualification of which you can be justly proud, and which is the envy of many. Furthermore, it gains you entrance to the wide world of the healthcare professions and bioscience, a world which offers you many opportunities and choices.”

She added: “To all of you, I wish you interesting and fulfilling lives in the years ahead, and offer my own congratulations on the achievement of your graduation.”

In addition to the graduates, honorary awards were presented to some of the most distinguished figures in the recent history of St George’s, as well as one of the UK’s leaders in medical education.

Honorary degrees were awarded to:

Professor Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, the now-retired head of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George’s

Dr Patricia Hamilton, who recently retired but who for most of her career was a consultant and senior lecturer in neonatal paediatrics at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and St George’s, University of London, as well as former director of medical education at the Department of Health

Professor Jacky Hayden, dean of postgraduate medical studies and head of the North Western Deanery at Health Education North West

James Cochrane CBE, who has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 30 years and was chair of the British Red Cross from 2007-2012. James was also a member of the SGUL Council, as well as treasurer and chairman of the Finance Committee, from 2006-2011